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AUGUST 2000 |
INDUSTRY ANALYSIS: Sports Equipment:
Non-Traditional Sports Take Off GUEST COLUMN: Distance Education in Corporate Universities REGIONAL TRENDS: US 2000 Elections: In search of Latin American Leadership ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: Brazil . |
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MEXICO
CITY OFFICE SAO
PAULO OFFICE |
 INDUSTRY
ANALYSISSports Equipment: Non-Traditional Sports Take Off Latin Americans take their sports very seriously, sometimes deadly seriously. The role of sports as a political ritual is firmly entrenched, particularly in the case of soccer, which has powerful nationalistic traditions. But for equipment manufacturers, the rapid expansion of non-traditional sports like volleyball, baseball, basketball and field hockey has more important implications. Unlike soccer, they require specialized equipment and facilities and with rising incomes, imported gear has the advantage of creating social status. Other key trends in the Latin American sports equipment market include increased interest in indoor exercise facilities, especially those offered by private clubs and fitness centers in apartment complexes. Golf and tennis, traditionally limited to affluent members of private clubs, are also gaining popularity among young urban professionals, with the recent advent of public facilities. The popularity and status of tennis is driving interest in other racquet sports like squash and racquetball, which in the region's polluted cities offer the additional advantage of indoor play. Expanded television sports coverage, combined with strong showings by Latin American players on the international stage, are contributing to this trend. |
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The spread of Internet access in Latin America is driving a trend towards the use of virtual training courses by corporate universities. This is particularly evident in Brazil, where government and business are both investing in on-line employee education. It is estimated that corporate Internet-based education in Brazil will attract investments of about US$ 30 million this year, rising to US$ 90 million in 2003. This mirrors global trends, which are expected to quadruple corporate online education by 2005. Creating virtual courses that are both professional and efficient requires high quality content and a solid technological infrastructure. This article explores the methods used by major on-line trainers like GlobalEnglish to partner with corporate universities to apply the best mix of training and delivery methodologies. These tools are helping multinational and local employers alike to attract and retain the talented workers and to ensure that knowledge and skills spread rapidly through the organization.
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  MARKET RESEARCH market profile benchmarking market entry viability market trend analysis new product testing customer satisfaction studies MARKET
INTELLIGENCE MARKET
ENTRY |
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The Latin American policies of the Clinton administration have consisted mostly of defensive, knee-jerk reactions, designed more to put a lid on awkward situations than to set new directions. Mexico has been one of the few success stories, with the NAFTA generating positive outcomes, notwithstanding the embarrassment of the US$ 50 billion bailout of 1995. The election of Vicente Fox, with its implications for Mexican modernization and democratization, is icing on the cake. On the eve of US presidential elections, speculation abounds about how the presidential and congressional outcomes will affect US-Latin American foreign policy. Gore or Bush; Democrat or Republican Congress; protectionists or free traders? What will be the mix on Capitol Hill and how will it govern its increasing strategic interests in Latin America? This article offers some insights into the likely policies of both tickets. |
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 ECONOMIC
OUTLOOKBrazil Brazil's efforts to float the Real and deal firmly with fiscal problems in 1999 reaffirmed its place as the darling of foreign direct investors in Latin America during 2000, a trend that will continue for the next two years. The economy is growing faster than expected and the country appears headed for a solid recovery. Almost predictably, however, the Brazilian government continues to struggle with chronic public deficits and an arcane tax regime. The lack of solid policies for industrial development and regulation of foreign direct investment is hampering competitiveness. Leaving this flank exposed undermines the country's export potential and perpetuates the current account deficit. Notwithstanding these difficulties, a foreign trade surplus forecast at between US$ 2 billion and $ 4 billion for 2000 will combine with continuing FDI to once again pull Brazil back from the brink. But by 2001, most of the state jewels will be privatized and FDI levels will decrease. The present government's inaction is a reaction to Brazil's long tradition of interventionist and protectionist policies. With public debt of more than US$ 440 billion, it seems incomprehensible that in July the Brazilian Congress again failed to pass tax and fiscal reforms for the eighth time since 1994. |
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 AMEX Avery Dennison BBDO Booz, Allen & Hamilton Citicorp International Computer Sciences Corp. Conagra |
 INFOAMERICAS
PROJECTSfor AUGUST 2000
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tendencias |
With offices in
Miami,
Mexico City,
Sao Paulo |
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GUEST
COLUMN
